A DEBT IS A DEBT
BY DAVID WALKER
The current THA Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine has informed the nation that his administration has inherited debts of close to one billion dollars from the outgoing one. Given an annual budget of around two and a half billion dollars, this represents indebtedness of close to 40% of budget. Several issues of grave concern arise from this announcement...more
IN PRAISE OF NESTOR SULLIVAN
Eulogy at the funeral of iconic steelband leader, researcher and ambassador, Nestor Sullivan delivered by Andre Moses his long-time friend and steelband co-conspirator...more
THE USE OF STATE VIOLENCE AND THE LAW AGAINST STRIKES AND MASS REVOLTS IN ANTIGUA PART THREE
The Antigua Labor Party (ALP) won the 1976 election. VC Bird announced soon after that 1968 would never happen again. His 1968 demise still galled, even though the party was celebrating an electoral victory and 1968 still gives present day party leaders angst. The ALP government immediately went into controlling mode...more
WORKERS MUST TAKE BACK THEIR UNIONS FROM MOCKING PRETENDERS POSING AS TRADE UNION LEADERS!
The leadership of the trade union movement, today, is the weakest it has been since the 1930’s. In effect, the weakest it has been in its history. This weakness is precisely why the economic and political elites have decided to launch their attack at this time...more
THE AG OUT OF HIS DEPTH
So the Attorney General has finally confirmed the growing suspicion that he is not the sharpest tool in the kit...more
THE USE OF STATE VIOLENCE AND THE LAW AGAINST STRIKES AND MASS REVOLTS IN ANTIGUA
PART TWO
by Alvette Ellorton Jeffers
When the general secretary, George Walter, failed to align the demands, actions and thoughts of the workers with the government’s political directives, he and Donald Halsted were thrown out of the union in 1967...more
RAFFIQUE SHAH PAYS TRIBUTE TO SHMOO
EULOGY FOR ABRAHAM MAHMOOD
I extend condolences to the Mahmood family on the passing of their beloved brother, uncle, cousin, Abraham, or Shmoo, as we, his brothers in arms, fondly called him...more
IN PRAISE OF ABRAHAM MAHMOOD
I met Mahmood through his lifelong friend and political comrade, Raymond Watts. We in the National Workers Union (NWU) had come to find out how much Raymond had contributed to progressive politics and culture both at home and abroad...more
TRAIN ONE - THE SUBTEXT
by Simeon Humphrey
Simeon Humphrey wades in on the arguments over the issue of Atlantic Train 1 and the investment decision made by the NGC, the only local shareholder in the very lucrative global LNG business...more
KATHLEEN DAVIS:
A SELF-MADE WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE
It is indeed an honour and privilege to have been asked by Kathleen's family to pay tribute to this working-class soldier, faithful and lawful servant of the trade union movement, and a committed fighter for peace, bread, and justice for workers... more
KATHLEEN: MY COMRADE. MY FRIEND. MY LOVER
Today we are celebrating the life of Kathleen
We started this afternoon by playing the Union song because this was Kathleen. It’s a song of solidarity, of struggle and of confidence in the future. Remember the chorus: “Hold the Fort for we are coming …Victory will come”...more
DID HE REALLY SAY THAT?
This, we are constantly reminded, is the age of misinformation. I for one, have come to mistrust most of what I hear second or third hand or worse. So when a report last week took my breath away, I had to ensure that it was accurate before I would comment on it. This was despite the fact that it came to my attention via the Newsday. I had to check that it was similarly reported in the other dailies and on social media... more
THE ’T’ IN TECU MUST ALSO MEAN TRANSPARENT
So today is World Credit Union Day. Who exactly in this country is celebrating it and what exactly is being celebrates is kinda hazy to me at this moment, what with the way the credit union movement is being slowly moved away from its moorings, the working classes...more
THE USE OF STATE VIOLENCE AND THE LAW AGAINST STRIKES AND MASS REVOLTS IN ANTIGUA PART ONE
On the 8th of August 2021, a large group of people assembled in St. John’s for a nonviolent protest against the government’s Covid mandates and restrictions, the Riot Squad used teargas to disperse the protesters. Days after the protest, Donette Simon, Shenel Williams and others were arrested and charged with offences related to their participation in an unauthorized activity....more
FAREWELL TO KEN SYLVESTRE MCLAREN
We mourn the loss of a true stalwart and great fighter of the trade union and progressive left movement in the passing of Sylvester Kenneth McLaren, who was affectionately called” Mac” or “Ken” by many of his close colleagues ... more
HOW CAN WE ACTION OUR CONSENSUS?
I am proposing an ‘Adopt a School’ initiative. What do you think? What role can each of us play to move such an initiative from idea to implementation? The more ingredients we contribute to the pot the quicker will we be able to share in the meal .... more
WE NEED AN EDUCATIONAL RETHINK
As a parent I understand the joy of fulfilment felt by parents and children as they celebrate SEA results. Preparing for the SEA involves a whole family effort and when that hard work is rewarded everyone shares in the euphoria of the achievement... more
THE GEORGE WEEKES AND OWTU I KNEW: MEMOIRS OF A BLUE SHIRT SOLDIER (Part 3)
January 2nd 1981 started with T&TEC Management accusing the workers of taking Industrial action resulting in black outs and load shedding. I was part of the Union Team with PG Weekes meeting with the T&TEC Board and Management at Paramount Building. We were in battle for better working hours for Shift Workers... more
PCR TEST? MAKE DE EMPLOYER PAY!
Many employers are trying to force workers who have not been vaccinated to take a PCR test. Some employers want every month, but others are demanding every two weeks ... more
WORKERS MUST TAKE BACK THEIR UNIONS FROM MOCKING PRETENDERS POSING AS TRADE UNION LEADERS
The leadership of the trade union movement, today, is the weakest it has been since the 1930’s. In effect, the weakest it has been in its history. This weakness is precisely why the economic and political elites have decided to launch their attack at this time...more.